Favorite NYC hotel bars
Outdoor dining is in full swing in NYC. We have no idea when indoor dining and drinking will recommence. I do think it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to COVID and am really grateful that our state is working hard to keep the curve flat. I do miss cozying up to a hotel bar for a cocktail though. I thought for this edition of Throwback Thursday I’d like to revisit some of my favorite hotel bars.
Cocktails and a shrimp cocktail at Bemelmans Bar
Arthouse Bar: All of the other bars on my lists are classics that have been around for decades, but this newer boutique hotel on the Upper West Side features a great lobby bar. There is occasionally live music and it’s always bustling with conversation. The menu changes seasonally so there are fun and festive specialty cocktails for the holidays and other occasions.
Bemelmans Bar: Located in the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side this classic haunt feels like you’ve stepped back into old New York. There is usually piano or other live music in the evening. It’s a wonderful place to meet someone for a drink after work or to grab a pre-show cocktail if you are going to see a show at Cafe Carlyle. The bar is named after Louis Bemelman the artist behind the beloved Madeline series. He painted the whimsical murals in the bar. I usually go for a classic cocktail like a Manhattan or a Bombay Saphire Martini. This is also the location of one of my favorite celebrity citings which was Nicholas Cage on a Christmas Eve wearing a leopard print smoking jacket.
The Blue Bar: While the main bar at the Algonquin Hotel and it’s round table is more famous, I prefer the darkly lit Blue Bar. The bar features a collection from one of my favorite artists Al Hirschfeld. Located in Midtown this is a great place to go before or after seeing a show on Broadway. I love their duck quesadillas with a glass of red wine. If you’re lucky you’ll spot Hamlet the resident Algonquin Cat during your visit.
King Cole Bar: Also located in Midtown at the St. Regis Hotel this is another bar with a famous mural. I recommend getting there a little before 5 o’clock on weeknights because once cocktail hour hits it can be a little bit of wait for a table. They happen to be famous for their Bloody Mary which originated here and is still called by it’s OG name, a Red Snapper.
The Palm Court: This restaurant in the Plaza Hotel is more famous for its afternoon tea, but bellying up to the bar there is also delightful, especially since the hotel’s other famous bar, The Oak Room was converted into a private events space in recent years. Their specialty cocktails are wonderful – my personal favorite is the Ruby Rose which has a base of grapefruit infused tequila.
